Keep Covington Beautiful plans Jan. 18 tree giveaway

Keep Covington Beautiful will celebrate Louisiana Arbor Day with the annual tree give-away at the Covington Farmers Market on Jan. 18 from 8 a.m. until noon, or until the tree seedlings are all given away, at the Covington Farmers Market in downtown Covington. A variety of native bare-root seedlings will be available , including Crabapple, Mayhaw, Mixed Plum, Redbay, American Elm, Bald Cypress, Live Oak, Cherrybark, Cow and White Oaks.

Keep Covington Beautiful website

Volunteers are needed to help wrap the seedlings to hand them out. If interested in helping, email kcb@covla.com.

The idea for Arbor Day originated in Nebraska in the 1800’s. As pioneers moved there, trees were needed as windbreaks, for fuel and building materials, as well as for shade.

The Arbor Day proclamation by the Mayor of Covington reminds the community of the many reasons to plant trees and to protect our woodlands. Trees:

Reduce topsoil erosion from wind and water

Cut heating and cooling costs

Moderate temperature

Clean the air & produce oxygen

Provide habitat for wildlife

Renewable resource for many wood products

Increase property values

Enhance the economic vitality of business areas

Beautify the community

KCB also reminds residents to mark their calendars for the city's annual Bogue Falaya River Sweep to be held April 5. Volunteers will collect litter from the Bogue Falaya River ending with a picnic at Bogue Falaya Park. Following the clean-up will be a fun new event, the Covington Clean & Green River Run canoe and kayak races. The races will benefit KCB’s major project, the Blue Swamp Creek Nature Trail located at the Covington Recreation Complex. More information will be available soon.

Join Keep Covington Beautiful in the celebration of the natural beauty that surrounds us, which we too often take for granted. To learn more about our projects, become a member or volunteer, visit www.keepcovingtonbeautiful.org or contact KCB at 985.867.3652 or kcb@covla.com.